Syrian Arab Airlines

Syrian Arab Airlines (alternative name Syrianair) is the national flag-carrier airline of Syria. It was established by the Government of Syria in October 1961, after the collapse of United Arab Republic. The new Syrian Arab Airlines took over the routes previously controlled by Syrian Airways and United Arab Airlines.

The airline began operation with three Douglas DC-6, two DC-4 and three DC-3, and serving both domestic and international routes to the east. In summer 1963, Syrianair begin its expension to the west, starting with Rome and Munich, then London and Paris. Sud Aviation Caravelle 10B3 joined the fleet in October 1965. In 1976, the airline acquired a Boeing 727-200 and 747SP.

In the 1970s, because of the closer political condition between Syria and the Soviet Union, Syrianair acquired some Soviet aircraft. This included an Antonov An-26, Ilyushin Il-76 and Yakovlev Yak-40 in the 1970s and Tupolev Tu-134B-3 abd Tupolev Tu-154M in the 1980s.

Since the United States imposed sanctions on Syria, the fleet update of Syrianair was interrupted, and the fleet was suffering from aging until October of 1998, when Airbus A320-200 arrived.

Based in Damascus International Airport, the state-owned Syrianair now employs about 3,500 workers, and operates a mixed fleet consisting of 6 Airbus A320-200, 6 Boeing 727-200 and 2 747SP. IATA Airline Code of RB and ICAO Airline Code of SYR are assigned to Syrianair.